Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Those waiting outside could not hear what was being said inside.

Assistant Li was looking at his phone, his expression blank and businesslike—the typical no-nonsense Bai-family Beta. He wore black-framed glasses, a strict, scholarly look, and having confirmed everything was set, he looked up only when he heard a noise.

The Beta had mentally prepared himself to watch over a four-year-old kid, but when he looked up, he saw Bai Sheng coming out of the room, holding a small bundle wrapped in a big medical coat.

It was obvious Bai Sheng handled the bundle cautiously and stiffly. His handsome face—normally either blank or sarcastic—was unusually tight.

That really caught Assistant Li off guard.

He’d worked for the Bai Group for years and was one of Bai Sheng’s right-hand men. He knew a thing or two about the Bai family.

People in the Bai family seemed born emotionally cold, not interested in finding partners—most marriages were business arrangements. This generation had five heirs, the oldest twenty-nine and the youngest eighteen, all still single.

Every generation of the Bai family tested out as top-tier Alphas with off-the-charts pheromone levels. Sure, Alphas and Betas are a dime a dozen in this world, but top Alphas are still hard to come by.

Plus, Alphas are naturally domineering, strong, and ambitious by nature. With top-tier abilities and Alpha instincts, they grab every resource they can. So sibling relationships in the Bai family were awful—especially in this generation. Even though they all still lived in the main residence compound, they were already scheming behind each other's backs, not just between siblings—there was constant tension between fathers and sons, fathers and daughters too.

Bai Sheng had the strongest pheromones, the most talent, and the worst temper of all the heirs. If he didn't get his way, he'd throw hands until he'd calmed down—which made him a truly unpredictable jerk. It was hard to picture him with an expression like that.

Li Zhilin—Assistant Li—still remembered all the arrangements Bai Sheng had made on the way over.

A four-year-old kid showing up out of nowhere? No way Bai Sheng had any feelings for the kid. All the arrangements were just to keep the kid safe. Don't expect any fatherly warmth.

But you go in with a sour face and come out with a totally changed expression—since when was the boss so good at "changing his tune"?

Of course, Assistant Li only dared to think that.

After all, we working stiffs shouldn't let our feelings get in the way of work.

But soon enough, Assistant Li found himself relating.

"Boss, the car's here."

No sooner had he said that than he saw the little bundle in Bai Sheng's arms shift. A tiny hand grabbed the edge of the coat and tugged it down a little. A pair of moist, bright black eyes peered out curiously.

The round, cute little face—soft and pale—peeked out cautiously. When their eyes met, the kid, who seemed naturally sweet, gave him a warm, gentle smile, showing off two little dimples.

Assistant Li: …………

Hold on a second!

What is this adorable little creature?! The boss's surprise kid?

Are you sure this is a Bai kid? Did the DNA test screw up or something?

Assistant Li almost bit his own tongue, sneaking glances back and forth between his boss and the kid.

Assistant Li was stunned: They actually look so alike!

How come the boss's face was all sarcasm and spite, while the kid's was so pure and harmless and cute?

Assistant Li had never seen such a cute little thing that melted your heart like that.

"Don't squirm."

Bai Sheng's voice came, lazy and a little cold. He reached out and pushed the little head that had poked out back down, then wrapped the coat up again.

The new dad remembered what the medical staff said: the kid was still weak—even though it was summer and warm out, better not to let him catch any wind.

The kid didn't say anything. From where he stood, Assistant Li could only see this 'little ghost' in the white coat nodding his head cutely and snuggling back into Bai Sheng's arms.

So well-behaved.

He was so soft and tiny in his arms. Looked like raising him might not be too hard.

Bai Sheng was content with the little bundle he'd wrapped up. His original 'let him be' plan? Apparently thrown out the window. He gave the bundle a little bounce, then took long strides out.

Once they were gone, the Federation medical staff packed up and got ready to head out.

Yet a few still looked reluctantly at the direction the little one had gone.

"From finding him to handing him over to the Bai family, it was too fast. Was the review really fully passed? Isn't it a bit too casual?"

"Otherwise? Send him to an orphanage or open him for adoption? A big family like the Bai family would never agree to that. Or if we just cut it off cleanly, the crazy ones who created this situation for profit would let the little one bear the consequences? That would be cruel."

The person packed up their things.

"Appeasing these top Alphas is troublesome enough. Luckily, the success rate of this kind of research is too low and the technical requirements are high. Big families are cautious. Now that both sides seem to be getting along, and that Mr. Bai is willing to take him home and raise him, it's the best outcome."

"But that little one looks very frail. Doesn't seem like a top Alpha."

"Side effect of the experiment, probably? The hospital on the Bai family's side should do relevant tests. He's too young and still very weak. Everything depends on development until adulthood. It's hard to judge specific physical traits, and this lab doesn't have the conditions to test them. But we should still make an ABO determination as soon as possible."

"Understood."

Bai Sheng carried the little one back to the main courtyard of the Bai family estate.

It was called a main courtyard, but it was actually like a small villa area. Several classical-looking small buildings were scattered in the large courtyard. Generally, only the true power holders of the Bai family actually owned this place.

In the last generation's power transition, Bai Sheng's father won. This generation has not yet settled who tops the ranks, and since none of the five heirs are married, they have not moved out officially yet.

Bai Sheng is twenty-five this year and is considered the most likely winner of this generation.

The black sedan had just stopped, and the butler of the Bai family estate was already waiting outside Bai Sheng's residence.

"Third Master."

The butler, often called Chang, appeared to be in his forties or fifties, with graying hair but sharp eyes. He had obviously heard about the little one and, at the instruction of Bai's father, who was currently out of the country, came specifically to see what was happening.

But his attitude made it clear that the Bai family, including Bai Qian, the current patriarch gradually delegating power, was indifferent to this sudden child.

After all, the Bai family had always let their own children fend for themselves.

Top Alphas displayed their talents from a very young age. They were geniuses in various fields. The older generation never interfered in the conflicts among the younger ones, resulting in unusually distant family ties. Thus, many outsiders were pessimistic about the Bai family's future.

The butler didn't need to think too hard to foresee the situation of the next generation of Bai family members: their pheromones were becoming stronger, their talents higher, and internal conflicts and suppression would only intensify. Like sharp stones grinding against each other, leaving no room for buffer.

This was certainly dangerous.

But between top Alphas, outsiders should not meddle.

However, he hadn't even finished speaking when Bai Sheng looked at him and interrupted: "Keep your voice down, Uncle Chang. We'll talk later."

The butler instinctively fell silent. His usually professional smile showed a rare trace of bewilderment.

He watched as Bai Sheng carried the small bundle and walked into the house, looking rather pleased.

The staff assigned to care for him indoors had already arrived, all watching the tiny figure bundled up in Bai Sheng's arms.

The clothes slipped down a little, vaguely showing the situation under the loose coat. Though the face wasn't clearly visible, one could see the little one holding onto Daddy's neck, chin resting on Bai Sheng's shoulder, making the already rounded chin appear even plumper. He showed no reaction to the outside world, breathing steadily—clearly fast asleep.

Not only had Third Master personally carried him back, but this little one had actually fallen asleep in Bai Sheng's arms?

Only belatedly did it dawn on Steward Chang: did Third Master seem quite attentive to this little one? It didn't feel like he was just bringing him home to let him run wild.

Steward Chang followed Bai Sheng inside, watching as Bai Sheng placed the little one on the bed and gave instructions to the servants hired to care for him. The little one was still asleep, curled up into a tiny shrimp under the blanket.

In the end, Steward Chang didn't linger long. He quickly left and went to report to the family head, Bai Qian.

Bai Qian, currently handling affairs abroad, merely glanced at the report casually.

The stern-faced, meticulous middle-aged man sat in a suit on the hotel sofa, his laptop screen showing real-time changes in various financial data. After listening to Steward Chang's report, he raised an eyebrow with slight interest.

"Are you saying that boy Bai Sheng put a smart monitor near that cheap little brat of his? Planning to keep an eye on him anytime? He sure has the leisure for that. Looks like the eldest's recent moves haven't caused him much trouble."

"Sir, do you need me to do anything about this?"

"No need. Bai Sheng can clean up his own mess. I don't want to get involved in their affairs at their age. As for his cub? I have no interest."

He had already raised five alpha cubs and had no desire to raise a sixth, especially since this cheap grandson seemed a bit weak. He might take a look at him when he returned home in a few days.

With that casual thought, Bai Qian ended the call and coldly refocused on the computer screen in front of him.

The little cub slept for quite a while.

He was brought back around noon and didn't wake up until nearly dusk.

Bai Nuo got out of bed sleepily, his black curly hair a tousled mess. He looked around the unfamiliar room.

It was a bed with temporary safety rails on the sides, and a soft mattress underneath. Little Bai Nuo sank into it like it was something rare, dazedly and curiously pressing his little hand on it.

So soft!

Where is this?

How long has Nuo Nuo been asleep?

Where's Daddy?

The little one slowly crawled up, peering out over the safety rail with his small hands gripping the edge.

He heard the rustling sound of wheels moving. Little Bai Nuo blinked a few times.

Next to the bed was a narrow path, and a mobile monitor glowing red seemed to have detected something. A capsule-shaped mini monitor, about the size of a palm, rolled along laboriously over to the cub.

It was a wheeled mini-monitor that could automatically follow a person. Families with little ones often kept a couple around to keep an eye on their safety, with footage transmitted in real time to the parents' phones.

Most kids would be used to this.

But for Little Bai Nuo, this world was completely foreign. Not just the technology here—even clean water and fresh food were things Bai Nuo had never seen before, let alone this glowing red 'monster'!

The cub took two steps back. The monitor kept its distance, then advanced two steps forward.

The little cub's hair slowly bristled.

Meanwhile, in the study, Bai Sheng had just received a notification that the cub was awake. He opened the video feed and immediately saw the little one he'd just brought back bracing his tiny hands on the bed rail, slipping over it, and hopping down...

Huh?!? He jumped off the bed?! Could he actually climb over a railing that tall?!

Startled, Bai Sheng quickly left the study to check if the little one was hurt.

But when he opened the door, he saw a scene in the hallway: the little one was running ahead, scampering, while the auto-follow mini-monitor whirred behind him.

Cub runs, monitor chases—the cub is trapped...

Bai Sheng: ...

Hearing the sound, the little one turned and spotted Bai Sheng. Little Bai Nuo made a quick decision, deciding that Daddy was tall and definitely strong enough to beat the 'monster' chasing him. So the cub ran over to Bai Sheng.

Instinctively, Bai Sheng bent down and opened his arms. He watched as the little one crashed into his arms like a flapping baby bird. Then the little one looked up, clutching his clothes and shrinking fully into his chest, and reported in a soft, cautious baby voice: "Daddy, it chased Nuo Nuo."

Nuo Nuo didn't do anything to it—it's mean!

Author's note:

Grandpa abroad at this moment: "A cub? Bai Sheng can handle it himself. Not my problem."

The monitor, having lost its target: "Searching..."

Nuo Nuo: "Sad face.JPG 'Little cub peeking'"

Little monitor: "Found.jpg"

Nuo Nuo: "!"

It's those small wheeled monitor cameras sold on Taobao—the kind that zoom around funnily when you see the video. And also, Nuo Nuo had been living alone for quite a while and has some quirky apocalypse survival skills~